Automatic switch-point-locking device



I. R. BURRESS.

AUTOMATIC SWITCH POINT LOCKING DE'v'I'CE. APPLICATION FILED APR. 20,1.9Z0. RENEWED MAR|3|192I I 1 ,398,662, Patented Oct. 11, 1921.

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I I? 2 R I s l` R lI l: :I t '1 1 yYI Il Q1 *f' J J I I n 'I' In (u I s J. R. BURRESS.

AUTOMATIC swncH vom 'LOCKING nEv'lcE.

Patented Oct. 11, 1921.

APPLICATION F-lLED APR. 20,'1.920.RENEWED MAR. 3,1921.

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inclined endsv D and disposed slightly below the ball or tread portion of the rail 9 is formed on a base 15 that is secured to a pair of ties 16 of the main track A and has pivoted thereto a bell crank lever 17 which has one of its arms pivoted to a link 18. The link 18 is pivoted to the bii'ui'cated head 6 for causing the bell crank lever to swing on'its pivot by the movement of the connecting,- bar 5. The other arm o'l the bell crank lever 17 is pivoted to a rod 19 that extends along themain track A and is slidably mounted in brackets 2O and is pivoted to a bell crank lever 21. The bell crank lever 21 is pivoted to a bracket 22 supported by onev of the ties and has a connecting rod 23- pivoted thereto which extends under the rails of the main track Jsand one of the rails of the spur or side track B. A bracket 24 is pivoted to the end of the connecting rod` 23 and is secured to an ordinary derailing point 25 of the spur or side track,

Vso that when the switch points 2 and 3 are positioned to close the main track A, the derailing point 25 will be automatically opened preventing a train or car Von the side or spur track from moving Vonto the main track A or the open switch. The foregoing description relates to a well-known construction oit railroad track and switch to which my 4'invention is appliable.

An actuating member 26 adjacent the outer rail of the spur or side track E extends kto points adjacent the derailing` point 25 and the free end of the switch point and is graduallyinclined from its medial portion toward each endjtheieof. The actuating; member 26 is pivotally connected to arms 2'4" which are in turn pivotally connectedv Vto brackets 28 secured to the rail C ot the side or spur track B. lieafl springs 29 are secured to the tie and beary against 'the under face oi?. the Aactuating; membei1 26 for normally supporting ythe same in Van elevated position and in a position so that its medial portion is disposed in a planeabove the rail C of the side or spur track B aiidwith its C, so that the car wheels traveling on the rail B may also readily pass onto the actuating `member 26 and lgradually depress the same.` A yshaft 50 is liournaled in brackets 31 secured to tho rails ot the tracks A and B and extends under the switch points'2 andv 3 and is secured to one of the supporting arms 2T at one end and its other end is .provided with an arm 32, to which a locking Y bar is pivoted. The tree end oit the locking` bar 3B is disposed over the bar 5 andy rests onV a block V33 formed integrallyY with said connectingbar 5 and which is provided with a` notch 34. Al shoulder 35 is formed on the locking` bar and. is adapted to move into and out of the notch 34 according` to the positions occupied by the switch points 2 and n. bracket Stiot substantiallyl.-

shape is formed on the base 15 of the stand 9 and is provided with spaced and downwardly depending` ears 37 between which slides the locking` bar 33 to prevent the same from moving` laterally in either direction.

In operation, lwhen the handle 14 is moved to cause the switch points 2 and 3 to position themselves so that a car or train can pass l'from the main track A to the side or spur track B, the train or car engages the end E or" thegactuating member 26 and gradually vdepresses the saine aga-inst the tension ot the springs 29 and said actuatingmember reaches its fullest depressed position when the wheels of the car or train pass over the frog 4 so as to cause the shaft 30 to be rotated and move the locking bar 33 so that the shoulder engages -in the notch 34 of the block 33 lockino the connectingbar against movement, holding the switch points 2 and 85 3 in their proper positions and preventing them from being moved by a trainman until after the car or train has passed beyond the' end D oit the actuatingr member and reached a pointbeyond the derailing point 25.

Pins 38 are secured to the car actuated member 26 and are provided with eyes to. receive bolts 39 which are slidable through Vclamps 40 yto provide a construction which will .limit 'the upward nioif'ement of the car 95 actuated member and it is to be noted that the nuts 41 -will, permit adjustment or'fvariation ot the said movements.

ilfhile .l have shown and described the preferred embodiment ot my invention, it

will be understood that minor changes in construction, combination, and arrangement of i partsmay be inadewithout dep arting Jfrom the spirit and. scope of the invention as claimed.

. Having thus described my invention, what n 1.' ln combination. a railroad switch conncctiiigmain and side tracks, switch actuating; means.A a car actuated member pivotally mounted on-tlie side tracl, tension means supporting said car actuated member, a lockf1 o ber. a shoulder iiormed on said locking lever, and, a notched block secured tothe switch actuatflug;A means andl adapted to receive the shoulder tor preif'enting;- operation ofV the switch actuating means when the car actuated member is depressed. Y Y 2. lncombination. a railroad switch connecting main and side tracks, switch actuan 12C the side track, tension means supporting said 121 car actuated member,` and locking means zitter-,ted by the -car actuatinga member to hold the switch actuating `means against operation.V

lever connected to the car-actuated mema. in combination, a railroad switch con- 13 necting main and side tracks, switch actuating means, a car actuated member associated with the side track, a locking lever connected to said car actuated member, a block on the switch actuatingr means and having a. notch therein, a shoulder formed on the free end of the locking member, a bracket carried by the switch actuating means, and spaced ears formed on said br acket and sldably receiving' the locking lever.

In testimony whereof I aHX my signature in presence of two witnesses.

Titnesses TOM SCURRY H. C. JANE 

